Prerequisites:
- A Rails application up and running.
- A Google Analytics account. If you don't have one, sign up here.
Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Create a Google Analytics Property:
- Log in to your Google Analytics account.
- Click on "Admin" at the bottom left corner.
- Under the "Property" column, click on "Create Property."
- Fill in the details of your Rails application and click "Create."
2. Get Your Tracking Code:
- Once the property is created, navigate to "Tracking Info" > "Tracking Code."
- You'll see a block of JavaScript code under "Global Site Tag (gtag.js)." This is the tracking code you'll need.
3. Create a Partial for the Tracking Code:
- In your Rails application, create a new file named `_analytics.html.erb` inside the `app/views/shared` directory (you might need to create the `shared` directory if it doesn't exist).
- Paste the Google Analytics tracking code into this file.
- Wrap the tracking code in a conditional to ensure it only runs in the production environment:
<% if Rails.env.production? %>
<!-- Your Google Analytics tracking code here -->
<% end %>4. Render the Partial in Your Main Layout:
- Open `app/views/layouts/application.html.erb`.
- Just before the closing `</head>` tag, render the analytics partial:
<%= render 'shared/analytics' %>
5. Verify the Integration:
- Deploy your Rails application if it's not already live.
- Visit your Rails application in a web browser.
- Return to your Google Analytics dashboard and check the "Realtime" section. You should see at least one active user (which is you).
6. Dive Deeper into Google Analytics:
- With Google Analytics now integrated, spend some time exploring the various reports and insights it offers. This data will provide a clearer picture of your audience's behavior, helping you make more informed decisions about your Rails application.
Conclusion:
Using a partial for integrating Google Analytics into your Rails application is a cleaner and more modular approach. It not only keeps your main layout file tidy but also allows for easier management of third-party scripts in the future. With this setup, you're well-equipped to leverage the insights from Google Analytics for your Rails application. Happy analyzing!